_S{r}. James Poole of Poole, Baronett_: To whom this First Volume of the Book Entituled The Academy of Armory is most humbly Dedicated and presented, from him who is devoted yours RANDLE HOLME." This was probably a compliment paid to every subscriber, and it displays, as Mr. Moule observes, the finest illustration extant of the "oeconomy of flattery." The following extract will give an idea of a large proportion of the contents of this famous 'Storehouse,' which, like many other storehouses, holds much that is of very little value. Honest Randle blazons one of his fictitious bearings for the purpose of introducing the names of the implements and terms employed by that useful personage the barber. "LVII. He beareth Argent a =Barber bare headed=, with a =pair of Cisers= in his right hand, and a =Comb= in his left, =cloathed= in Russet, his =Apron Chequé= of the first and Azure, &c. "_Instruments of a Barber._ The instrument case, in which are placed these following things in their several divisions: The glass or seeing glass. A set of horn combs, with teeth on one side, and wide. A set of ivory combs with fine teeth, and toothed on both sides. An ivory beard comb. A four square bottle with a screw'd head for sweet water, or Benjamin water, &c. The like bottle with sweet powder in; but this is now not used. A row of razors, &c. &c." Then follow "TERMS OR ART _used in Barbing and Shaving_ (!!!) _Take the chair_, is for the person to be trimmed to sit down. _Clear the neck_, is to unbutton and turn down the collar of the man's neck. _Cloath him_, is to put a trimming cloth before him, and to fasten it about his neck. _Powder the hair_, is to puff sweet powder into it. _Walk your combs_, is to use two combs, in each hand one, and so comb the hair with one after the other. _Quever the combs_, is to use them as if they were scratting on each side the temples. _Curle up the hair_, is to rowle it about a pair of curling or beard irons, and thrust it under the cap. _Lather the face_, is to wash the beard with the suds which the ball maketh by chaffing it in the warm water. _Hand the razor_, set it in a right order between the thumb and fingers. _Shave the beard_, is to take off superfluous hairs. _Hold him the glass_, to see his new made face, and to give the barber instruction where it is amiss. _Take off the linnens._ _Brush his cloaths._ _Present him with his hat_, and according to his hire, he makes a bow, with your humble servant, Sir."[301]. But, although the 'Academy of Armory' abounds in passages equally useless and totally irrelevant of the subject of arms, it must be acknowledged to contain a great body of information which, at a time when Encyclopædias were unknown, must have been of considerable utility.[302]